Austin

11:40 am

Fri January 14, 2011

People at the Austin Resource Center for the Homeless are handing out more than 200 blankets at 1 p.m. today. The cold weather has created a huge demand for blankets among homeless people, and Austinites have donated generously, ARCH interim executive director Mike Abkowitz told KUT News.

"We've been distributing blankets throughout the cold weather season, but we know there's just more and more need," Abkowitz said.

ARCH will also be disturbing bags of hand-knit hats and scarves, provided by a group of senior citizen women who call themselves the Mitzvah Knitters.

Abkowitz says they hand out about 2,500 blankets every year, and are still in need of donations. They accept only new blankets that still have store packaging. We reported this week on one case where used blankets with bedbugs were donated to the ARCH, and that led to the policy being changed.

The ARCH also needs large, heavy-weight, weather resistance coats. Best of all is to donate cash, Abkowitz says, because then they can directly meet the needs of the homeless people they help.